John William Ogilvie Bennett (11 November 1845 – 28 May 1869) was a draftsman on Goyder's 1869 survey expedition. He was fatally speared by Aborigines on the Adelaide River on 24 May, 1869, after he and a fellow expedition member had been attacked in their camp. Bennett had been compiling an atlas of Wulna placenames. He was buried at a site on the top of Fort Hill, Darwin. This photograph shows the original burial site where Bennett's remains, and also those of Richard Hazard, who had died shortly after Bennett, were interred. It was the earliest European burial site in Darwin - until the remains were relocated to another site in 1965. The original inscription on the headstone read: ' Sacred to the memory of Mr J.W.O. Bennett, who died on the 28th May 1869, age 23 years, from spear wounds inflicted by the natives at Fred's Pass on the 24th day of the same month. Mr Bennett placed implicit confidence in the blacks and treated them with familiar kindness. They requited his kindness and confidence by treacherously spearing him when off his guard. Sacred also to the memory of Richard Hazard, who departed this life at Fort Point, 9th August, 1869 aged 43 years .'  In 1919 a brass plaque replaced the original inscription, and it is this plaque which can seen in the photograph. It is worded: ' In Memory of J.W.O. BENNETT Died May 28, 1869. Age 23 years (Murdered by Natives). Also RICHARD HAZARD Died Aug. 9, 1869. Age 48 years '. 

Photograph taken c1935 by Author unknown

Title: Fort Hill grave

Photo No: PH0274/0649

Date taken: 01 January 1920.

Place: Fort Hill, Darwin.

Collection: Roy Edwards Collection.

Description: Grave of J.W.O. Bennett and Richard hazard at Fort Hill, iron fence surrounds grave. (Grave since removed to McMillans road).

Notes: Date:192?

Citation address: http://hdl.handle.net/10070/25247

Copyright owner: Northern Territory Library.

Use and Restrictions:  
This work ( Fort Hill grave ), identified by  NT Library - Use and Restrictions  , is free of known copyright restrictions.